Shungite Deep Dive | Science, Benefits & How to Use It

This deep dive covers everything science and research have revealed about shungite — how it formed, what makes it unique at the molecular level, the different grades and their uses, and how to harness its EMF-protective and health-supporting properties. Whether you're new to shungite or looking to go beyond the basics, this is your comprehensive reference.

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What is Shungite? The Stone Science Can't Fully Explain

Shungite is the only naturally occurring mineraloid with a body of science to support its EMF mitigating properties. This special stone's unique molecular structure and distinctive electromagnetic properties give it unparalleled health benefits.

There is only one outcrop of shungite on planet Earth, which is in Karelia, Russia. Karelia is on Russia's northwestern border with Finland. No other carbon-based rock in the mineral kingdom is like shungite!

Based on current estimates, shungite may be completely mined out within the next few years. The higher grades are becoming increasingly rare, and prices have risen significantly - especially for the larger pieces and for top grade shungite, called “elite shungite” (aka noble or silver shungite, or type 1).

This scarcity is not a marketing claim — it is a geological reality. Shungite exists in only one location on Earth, and active mining has been ongoing for decades. Higher-grade shungite, particularly elite (Type I), is reportedly completely mined out. What remains is in warehouses and private collections. Prices have risen astronomically in recent years. If you have been considering adding shungite to your home or collection, sooner is better than later.

How was Shungite Formed?

This special stone is the oldest known hydrocarbon-based rock on Earth, dating back more than 2 billion years. As stated above, there is only one known outcrop on our planet - in Karelia, Russia. Even though shungite's composition is similar to other carbon-based rocks such as graphite and diamond, its structure and properties are so rare and distinctive that scientists cannot agree on how it formed.

Shungite's genesis probably began much like shale since it began in an era when the earth was populated by single-celled organisms. These organisms accumulated and mixed with mud and silt on the bottom of a body of water.

After that, substantial forces of heat and pressure transformed these organic materials into rock, but it's the source of these that remained uncertain. Some believe it was geothermal heat and compression. Others believe it was an asteroid impact. Others have postulated that shungite is extraterrestrial altogether, because it appears nowhere else on Earth.

What is Shungite Made Of? Fullerenes & the Carbon Mystery

Shungite's most extraordinary component is its fullerenes — hollow carbon molecules shaped like geodesic spheres. Named after architect Buckminster Fuller, whose geodesic dome designs they resemble, fullerenes were so significant that Science magazine named them "Molecule of the Year" in 1991, and the scientists who first synthesized them received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1996.

Shungite contains at least seven types of fullerenes, ranging from 24 to 70 carbon atoms. The most biologically significant are C60 (carbon 60) and C70 — the larger fullerenes whose remarkable antioxidant and health-protective properties have been the subject of growing scientific interest. C60 fullerenes have been shown to be among the most potent antioxidants ever studied, capable of neutralizing free radicals far more effectively than conventional antioxidants like vitamin C or E. It is these fullerenes that are believed to be the primary driver of shungite's EMF-transforming, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Because of its conditions of formation, shungite also contains a diverse complement of silicate minerals, iron, titanium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, sulfur, aluminum, and a wide variety of other natural elements.

Authentic shungite often displays visible inclusions — small flecks, specks, and veining of silvery or golden minerals running through the matte black stone. These are the silicate minerals and metallic elements naturally present in the matrix, and they are a hallmark of genuine shungite. A perfectly uniform, jet-black stone with no variation at all may be worth a closer look for authenticity.

How Can I Tell If My Shungite is Real?

As with most things, there's a good deal of misinformation circling the Internet. As shungite gains recognition, fake shungite products have emerged in the marketplace. I test all my shungite for authenticity. If you want to test shungite for yourself, here is my video about how to do so using a simple multimeter.

Shungite Types: Which One is Right for You?

Not all shungite is created equal. Shungite is classified into three types based on carbon content, and the differences matter significantly for how you use it.

Type I — Elite / Noble Shungite

The rarest form, comprising only ~1% of all shungite mined. Carbon content: 90–99%. Silver and lustrous in appearance, it is rarely shaped or polished — only used in raw form. Best for making shungite water and maximum-potency EMF protection. Increasingly difficult to source as the deposit is exhausted.

Type II — Petrovsky Shungite

A mid-grade shungite with 50–70% carbon content. Dark gray and semi-lustrous. Used primarily for jewelry and smaller decorative pieces. Also largely mined out.

Type III — Regular Black Shungite

The most widely available form, with 30–50% carbon content. Matte black and easily shaped and polished. This is what most people have in their homes — pyramids, spheres, bricks, cubes, tiles, phone plates, and beads - still plenty powerful against EMFs.

What are the Health Benefits of Shungite?

Shungite's benefits are far-reaching. Simply put, shungite can transform EMFs (electromagnetic frequencies) into wave forms that are more biologically compatible with our bodies. For centuries, Russians have been using shungite to treat everything from allergies and infections to inflammation, traumatic injuries, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis, digestive maladies, skin conditions - even depression.

Shungite has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and detox properties, in addition to helping the body manage the harmful effects of both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. It has been reported to provide relief from a variety of skin conditions, as well as boosting our resistance to illness and assisting our bodies with detoxification.

It is shungite's unusual molecular structure that makes this all possible. Within its mineral matrix are huge hollow carbon structures resembling soccer balls, termed fullerenes (or “buckeyballs”), which were named after the late Buckminster Fuller who was famous for his geodesic dome architecture.

Fullerenes are basically molecular hexagons and pentagons bound together into hollow cages. These fullerenes give shungite a high oxidative and reductive capacity. Think antioxidants!

Fullerenes are so important that in 1991, Science magazine distinguished fullerenes as the “molecule of the year,” and in 1996 the scientists who synthesized them were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Ever heard of carbon 60? Shungite has it – and more. Shungite houses seven types of fullerenes containing between 24 and 70 carbon atoms, but it's really only the larger fullerenes (60 and 70 carbons) that are so special. Fullerenes with 60 carbons are known as carbon 60 (C60), whose health benefits have been recently revealed.

Shungite is known for a variety of health benefits. It is best known for its ability to help people with electrohypersensitivity by transforming the frequency of manmade EMFs (electromagnetic radiation) into more biologically compatible frequencies, thereby neutralizing their impact. Many people who suffer from electrohypersensitivity report benefits from shungite – but its benefits don't stop there.

In addition to helping mitigate the effects of both ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, this amazing stone can help us stay grounded, calm and connected to the world around us. Shungite is able to support us on all levels - physical, emotional and spiritual.

How Does Shungite Protect Against EMFs?

Energetically, shungite has been found to expand our “vital field.” Shungite researcher Regina Martino found shungite to be the only rock or mineral able to realign the chakras and optimizing this vital field. Specifically, it strengthens the vitality of the first chakra (root chakra), which is directly connected to our health and vitality.

Shungite does not block EMFs — it transforms them. A common misperception is that shungite blocks or traps EMF, but this is not how it works. Shungite actually “transforms” them, changing their wave forms such that their damaging biological effects are neutralized. Shungite makes those health-disrupting, DNA-twisting, manmade EMFs more like the Earth's natural fields - which are compatible with our bodies.

Please note that this is not something that can be measured with an EMF meter, because the EMFs are being transformed, not absorbed or filtered out.

It's all about resonance.

Many people report feeling better when they have shungite around them. In her book Shungite: Protection, Healing, and Detoxification, years of experimentation led bioenergetics researcher Regina Martino to conclude that having shungite around you greatly reduced the negative effects of EMFs.

Shungite's capabilities are equally impressive when it comes to ionizing radiation. A 2017 study showed how a topical shungite preparation protected hairless mice exposed to UVB radiation. Similarly, a Ukrainian study found that rats exposed to radiation and given shungite water for 15 days showed a 95 percent survival rate, compared to 63 percent for the control group.

How to Use Shungite: Placement, Water & Jewelry

Shungite stones can be worn on your body as jewelry or placed around your home and workplace. You can position shungite pieces around a room, especially in your sleep sanctuary and other areas where you spend a lot of time.

The larger the mass of shungite, the farther its range. Shungite is available in sculptural forms, such as spheres and pyramids – and happens to be as beautiful as it is functional!

Elite shungite can be used to make shungite water, which can be ingested or applied to the skin.

Can Shungite Get Wet?

As a stone, shungite can get wet. Although shungite is a soft stone, it will take many years for it to degrade in the environment. Elite shungite (the form highest in carbon) is even used to make a shungite-infused water, commonly called “shungite water.” However, when it comes shungite jewelry, water exposure is another story.

I don't recommend letting your shungite jewelry get wet. Water can seep into bead and pendant holes and quickly degrade other jewelry materials, such as leather cording. It can also dull the luster of polished shungite. Therefore, it is best to remove shungite jewelry before showering or swimming so that it is not exposed to water.

❓Frequently Asked Questions

What is shungite water?

Shungite water is water that has been infused with elite (noble) shungite stones, absorbing their antioxidant, antibacterial, and detoxifying properties. It has been used in Russia for centuries as a natural health tonic and is easy to make at home with a glass dispenser and authentic elite shungite stones.

What are the three types of shungite?

Shungite is classified into three types based on carbon content: Type I (elite/noble) at 90–99% carbon is the rarest and best for shungite water and EMF protection; Type II (Petrovsky) at 50–70% carbon is used primarily for jewelry; Type III (regular black shungite) at 30–50% carbon is the most widely available and used for pyramids, spheres, tiles, and phone plates.

How does shungite protect against EMFs?

Shungite does not block EMFs — it transforms them. Its fullerenes change the wave forms of manmade electromagnetic frequencies into forms that are more biologically compatible with the human body, neutralizing their harmful effects without reducing the signal itself.

What are the health benefits of shungite?

Shungite is best known for mitigating EMF exposure by transforming electromagnetic frequencies into biologically compatible wave forms. It also has documented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and detoxifying properties, and has been used in Russia for centuries to support immunity, skin health, and overall vitality.

Can shungite get wet?

As a stone, shungite can get wet — elite shungite is even used to make shungite water for drinking or topical use. However, shungite jewelry should be kept dry, as water can seep into bead holes, degrade materials like leather cording, and dull the luster of polished shungite.

Go Deeper: More Shungite Resources

For help in getting started with shungite, this article about How to Get Started With Shungite may be helpful.

Many of your most commonly asked questions are answered on my FAQ page.

If you want to read a comprehensive report about shungite, my 2018 report Shungite: The Electropollution Solution, is available as a free download.

Ready to bring shungite into your home? Explore our Shungite Home Basics collection →